Biased language in hospital records appears to harm patient care and disproportionately affects Black patients, according to research examining more than 2,300 hospitalizations across 29 medical centers.Researchers found stigmatizing language in about 5 percent of medical documentation, but its presence was twice as common in records of Black patients compared to White or Asian patients. Black patients had stigmatizing language in nearly 10 percent of their records, while White patients had such language in fewer than 4 percent of cases.Patients experiencing housing instability faced even higher rates, with stigmatizing language appearing in 15 percent of their medical records compared to…
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A new University of Michigan study reveals significant racial disparities in disability rates among older Americans, with about 40% of African Americans aged 50-80 living with a disability compared to one-third of older adults overall. The research, published in Geriatric Nursing, examined preparedness for “aging in place” among different racial and ethnic groups. It found that African Americans face multiple disadvantages, including higher disability rates, lower incomes, and poorer self-reported health. “I knew there was disability among older adults, but I guess I didn’t really consider the extent of it,” said lead researcher Sheria Robinson-Lane, assistant professor of nursing at…
Two Native American tribes have taken legal action against major social media companies, alleging their platforms contribute to disproportionately high suicide rates among Native youth. The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County court against companies owning Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Google. The lawsuit claims that Native American teens are heavily engaged with social media, with about two-thirds of youth aged 15-24 using these platforms for three to seven hours daily. This usage, the tribes argue, is directly fueling a mental health crisis among Native youth. Menominee Tribal…
Black Americans who experience racial discrimination in midlife show higher levels of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers later in life, according to a new study. This finding provides evidence that chronic stress from racism may contribute to the disproportionate risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Black Americans.The research, conducted over 17 years, analyzed blood samples and interviews from 255 Black participants. By 2019, when participants averaged 57 years old, those who reported more discriminatory experiences in their 40s and 50s had significantly higher levels of phosphorylated tau181 and neurofilament light chain, both indicators of neurodegeneration.”This study is an important look into…
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that Black women with a maternal history of uterine fibroids face a 26% higher risk of developing fibroids themselves. This finding highlights a significant health disparity affecting Black women in the United States. Uterine fibroids, which impact over 70% of reproductive-aged women, disproportionately affect Black women. The study found that Black women experience fibroid onset approximately 10 years earlier than their White counterparts. The research, conducted using prospective ultrasonographic examinations, focused on Black women aged 23 to 35 years. Of the 1,610 participants, 37% reported a maternal history of fibroids. The…
Recent research published in JAMA Psychiatry has revealed a dramatic shift in the demographics of “deaths of despair” in the United States. The study shows that middle-aged Black and Native Americans now have higher death rates from alcoholic liver disease, drug overdoses, and suicide compared to white Americans. This finding challenges the longstanding narrative that these deaths primarily affected white Americans. The original analysis of deaths of despair, conducted nearly a decade ago, focused on rising death rates among middle-aged white people between 1999 and 2013. However, this new study highlights that the phenomenon has evolved significantly since then. By 2022,…
A new survey reveals that Black immigrants in the United States experience disproportionate levels of discrimination and unfair treatment across various aspects of life, including healthcare, employment, and social interactions. The 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants found that Black immigrants, who make up 8% of all immigrants in the US, report higher rates of mistreatment compared to other immigrant groups. Despite most Black immigrants citing improved educational, employment, and financial situations since moving to the US, they face significant challenges. Half of Black immigrants reported difficulties paying for basic necessities in the past year, double the rate of White…
A National Institutes of Health study linking frequent use of hair relaxers to increased uterine cancer risk has sparked thousands of lawsuits in the United States, while sales of these products continue to climb in some African countries. The October 2022 study found that women who used hair relaxers more than four times a year had a higher risk of uterine cancer. This research has become a tipping point, building on over a decade of scientific evidence suggesting a correlation between women’s exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in these products and the development of uterine and breast tumors. In response, many…